# NTSB LAX86LA008: Piper PA-23-250, N6726Y, Santa Barbara, CA, October 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 3, 1985, 20:40 local (Oct 4, 1985, 03:40 UTC)
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Location: 34.4036° N, 119.7137° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Barbara, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4036&lon=-119.7137&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24993
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24993/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA008

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

ON OCT. 3, 1985, PIPTER PA-23-250 CRASHED INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN WHILE ON AN AIR SAMPLING FLT NEAR SANTA BARBARA, CA. THE AC WAS DESTROYED AND THE TWO PLTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE FLT WAS TO BE FLOWN ALONG A PREDERMINED ROUTE UTILIZING LORAN NAVAIDS. THE AC OPERATOR WAS SURE THE WAY PLTS WERE CORRECT AND WERE ENTERED PROPERLY. THE AC WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH SANTA BARBARA APPROACH CONTROL AND REPORTED NO DIFFICULTIES. A REVIEW OF THIS INFO BY THE OPERATOR INDICATED THE AC WAS ON COURSE AS SCHEDULED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6726Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6726Y-2004-10-22), registration cancelled 2004-10-22, S/N 27-4058, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-4058
- Airframe hours: 2784
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sonoma Technology, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1985, 47 hours before
- Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 24,290 total, 144 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851003053939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851003053939A), Oct 3, 1985: Piper PA23250, Santa Barbara, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Disappeared from ground radar while flying over the Santa Barbara channel. No wreckage found.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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